Despite Cannabis’ Decline, Trulieve Will ‘Lead From the Front’ on Female Representation

Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, bolstered her efforts to create a healthy environment for women during Women’s History Month, although the proportion of women in cannabis leadership roles has remained stagnant in recent years.

She told Cheddar News in an interview following the company’s results release, “One of my goals is to make Trulieve the best platform for women to establish and sustain careers.”

Rivers, one of the most prominent female CEOs in the cannabis market, stated that in 2022, fifty percent of her Florida-based company’s board consisted of “truly fantastic, amazing, and strong women.”

She stated, “We will continue to lead from the front.”

*(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)*

Approximately 23.1% of cannabis business executives are female, according to MJBizDaily’s 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry report. This marks an increase of 1 percent from 2021 but a decline from 2019’s all-time high of 36.8 percent. In 2021, the proportion of women owning a majority share in cannabis enterprises increased from 19.9 percent to 22.2 percent. According to the survey, approximately 29.1% of chief executives in the broader economy are women.

The epidemic of COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact on women working. According to the Department of Labor Statistics, the percentage of women in the labor force decreased by around 1 percent in 2020 to its lowest level since 1987. As a result of the pandemic-induced closure of schools and daycare facilities, many women were obliged to assume caregiving obligations. In addition, women were overrepresented in the industries severely devastated by the pandemic.

“We are currently in a post-COVID, pre-recession period,” Rivers stated. Many people, especially women, are reprioritizing thinking through career trajectories and what that looks like in this new period based on their non-work commitments.

Despite the unfavorable circumstances, Rivers remained positive regarding the future of women in the cannabis industry.

She stated, “I sincerely hope that these data will point in a different direction on this date next year.”